Casement window operating means



March 2, 1937. H. BIANCO 2,072,077

CASEMENT WINDOW OPERATING MEANS Filed April 30, 1936 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASEMENT WINDOW OPERATING MEANS Application April 30, 1936, Serial No. 77,075

4 Claims.

The general object of the present invention is to provide improved means for adjusting a casement Window into, and maintaining it in different positions.

A morespecific object of the present invention is to provide improvements in a casement window arrangement of the kind in which the window sash is biased for movement from its fully closed position into its wide open position, and may be adjusted into, and held in, different open positions, and may be locked in its closed position by manual adjustments given the inner end portion of a flexible operating element connected at one'end to the sashand extending from the latter to the inner side of the casing, and cooperating with means carried by the casing, and including parts through which the said adjustments of said element lock the sash to, or unlock it from the casing, when the sash is in its closed position, and, when the sash is in an open position, cause said element to be either gripped at one or another point along its length, or released, and thereby hold the sash in one or another open position, or permit opening and closing movements of the sash.

In a preferred form of the improved arrangement, the sash is given its bias or opening movement by spring hinge connections between the sash and the window casing, and the flexible operating connection through the window sash is preferably a light pull chain, and the cooperating means carried by the casing includes a member which is pivoted to the casing and formed with a guide passage for the flexible element, and is adapted to be given pivotal movements by lateral adjustments of the portion of the element at the inner end of said guide passage, and is provided with a locking hook, moved by the pivotal movements of said member into and out of locking engagement with the sash when the latter is in its closed position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated and described in detail herein, the parts by which, as a result of lateral movements of the inner end portion of the flexible or pull chain element the latter is gripped at one or more points along its length, and thereby held against longitudinal movement, or is released to permit such longitudinal movements, comprise a keyhole opening formed in the portion of the pivoted member at the end thereof remote from its pivot, and resilient means mounted on the member and tending to hold an adjacent link of the pull chain'in a portion of the keyhole opening, which is too narrow to permit longitudinal movement of the pull chain therethrough. Lateral movement of the inner end portion of the pull chain in the direction required to turn the pivoted member out of its sash locking position, if carried far enough, displaces the said resilient means to permit movement of the pull chain out of the narrow portion of the keyhole opening, into a larger portion of said opening through which the pull chain is longitudinally movable. With the described construction, with the pivoted member in the position into which it is turned in unlocking the sash, the sash may be secured in any position intermediate its fully closed and wide open position, by entering a corresponding link of the pull chain in the narrow portion of the keyhole opening.

The various features of novelty which characterize'my invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, however, its advantages, and specific objects attained with its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing and descriptive matter in which I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a casement windo construction as seen from its inner side;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the window casing and sash construction shown in Fig. l, and taken at right angles to that figure; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a chain guiding and holding and window locking element of the construction shown in Figs. 1-4.

The window construction shown in the drawing comprises a metallic window casing element I adapted for inclusion in a building wall, and in the form of a rectangular frame surrounding a rectangular window opening adapted to be enclosed by a metallic window sash member 2, which is hinge connected to the casing frame I at one side of the latter. As shown in Fig. 2, the casing frame is of Z bar cross section comprising inner and outer parallel flange or rib portions 3 and 4 connected by a transverse web portion 5. The sash 2 comprises a marginal frame portion of similar cross section, and in the closed position of the sash, its inner and outer frame flanges 6 and 1 abut against the casing flanges 3 and 4 respectively, with the transverse sash web 8 alongside and spaced some distance away from the casing web portion 4. As shown, the sash comprises central vertical and horizontal bar portions 9 and I9 respectively, which in conjunction with the sash frame, provides seats for four glass panes H. The latter may be anchored against their seats in any usual or suitable manner which need not be illustrated or described herein, as the invention is not concerned with the mounting of the window panes, or with the shape or number of the latter.

The window sash 2 is hinged at one side to the corresponding side of the window casing by upper and lower hinge connections, each shown as comprising a bracket l2 welded or otherwise attached to, and projecting outwardly from, the outer flange 4 of the casing, a generally similar bracket part [3 welded or otherwise attached to the outer flange 1 of the window casing, and a bolt or analogous connection I4 between the two brackets and serving as the hinge pintle. Each hinge connection includes a spring [5 shown as comprising a body portion of spring wire coiled about a hinge pintle, and tangential end extensions 16 and H. The extension I 6 passes through an opening formed for the purpose in a lug or projection l8 from the adjacent side of the corresponding bracket I2. The other spring end extension l1 lies in the corner space at the adjacent side of the bracket I3 and in front of a vertically extending flange portion I9 of the bracket part I3. The spring i5 is under tension tending to spread its end portions l6 and I1 apart and thereby subjects the sash to a constantly acting spring opening force.

In its preferred form, the flexible window operating element 20 is a chain, comprising links each of which can be separately moved laterally into a portion of the hereinafter described keyhole opening which is too narrow to permit longitudinal movement of the chain therethrough, but when laterally displaced in a larger portion of the keyhole opening, is longitudinally movable through said opening. Ordinarily, and as shown, the element 20 is a chain formed with sheet metal links. As shown, the chain is connected to the sash at the free edge of the latter and about midway between the top and bottom of the sash by means of a hook or eye part 2|, having a threaded stem passing through the sash flange 6, and held in place by a nut 2| bearing against the outer side of the flange.

As shown, the chain 20 extends through and is freely movable in the upper portion of a vertically elongated opening 22, formed in the casing flange 3. The chain 20 also extends through the upper one of openings 23 and 24 formed in a metallic part 25, secured to the window casing flange 3 at the front or room side of the latter. 'When the sash is in its closed position, the attachment part 2| is in register with the upper portion of the sash opening 22 and with the opening 23 in the part 25. The last mentioned opening is large enough to permit free longitudinal movement of the chain therethrough.

The part 25 as shown, comprises a bar like body portion formed adjacent its ends with holes 26 for securing bolts passing through those holes and threaded into the casing flange 3. At its front side, the member 25 is formed with lugs or cars 21 serving as hinge brackets or ears apertured to receive the ends of a pivot pin 28, on which a lever member 29 is journaled.

The lever 29 comprises a flat hook portion or comprises shoulders 3| in abutting relation with the front or free edges of the hinge ears 21. The: thickened portion of the lever part 29 is also formed with an elongated guide way or passage 33 for the chain 26. The passage 33 extends transversely to, and is laterally displaced from the pivot pin 28. As shown, the passage 33 comprises a cylindrical portion at its end adjacent the sash, an intermediate portion open at one side, and a keyhole shaped portion which is formed in a transverse portion 34 of the lever 29 at its end remote from the sash, and comprises a rounded portion 35 and a narrower portion 36. The chain 20 is freely movable in the largediameter part 35 of the keyhole opening and in the portion of the passage 33 between said opening and the sash end of the passage.

The keyhole opening portion 36 is wide enough to receive the shank or body portionsof the links of the chain 20, but when the shank or body portion of a link of the chain 20 is received in said portion 36, longitudinal movement of the chain is prevented, since the portion 36 is not wide enough for the passage of the linked portions of each end to end pair of chain links. Normally, the shank portion of one or another of the links of the chain 29 is held in the narrower keyhole opening portion 36 by the chain engaging part 31 of a member 38. The latter is shown as a lever received in an elongated recess 4! formed in a portion of member 29 alongside the passage 33, and journaled on a pivot pin 39 having its ends mounted in the side walls of the recess 4 I, a spring 40 normally maintains the lever 38,held in the position in which its end portion 31 holds a link of the chain in the keyhole opening portion 36. The spring 49, as shown, is a piece of spring wire of hairpin shape, looped about the pivot pin 39 and having its legs received in the portion of the recess at the opposite side of pin 39 from the chain engaging part 31, one leg of the spring bearing against the wall of the recess 4| between the latter and the passage 33, and the other spring leg bears against the adjacent side of the lever 38.

In the full line position of the parts shown in Fig. 3, the sash is positively locked in its closed position by engagement of the hook portion'3ll of the lever 29 with the sash carried locking part 42. The latter is shown as a projection from a bar-like member 43 screw connected to the sash web 8. The engaging surfaces of the hook 30 and the locking part 42 are preferably rounded and shaped as shown in Fig. 3, to engage with a camming or wedging action and thereby hold the sash flanges 6 and 1 in snug engagement with the casing flanges 3 and 4, respectively, when the sash is in its locked position. As shown in full lines in Fig. 3, a link of the chain 29 is received in the narrow slot portion 36 of the keyhole opening formed by the portions 35 and 36, and the chain engaging part 31 is in position to prevent movement of said link out of the slot 36, but with the hook 39 in engagement with the part 42, as shown in Fig. 3, it is not directly important whether the chain is received in the narrow slot portion 36, or in the rounded portion 35 of the keyhole opening.

Movement of the lever 29 from the full line position shown in Fig. 3 into the dottedline position shown in that figure, turns the hook 30 out of engagement with the sash carried locking part 42, and makes the position of the sash dependent on the longitudinal adjustment of the pull chain 28. When the portion of the latter at the inner side of the window casing is deflected counterclockwise, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, out of alignment with the passage 33 in the member 29, the member 38 is moved against the action of its bias spring 40 as required for the movement of the chain out of the narrow portion 36, and into the rounded portion. 35 of the keyhole opening at the end of the passage 33. In that condition of the apparatus, the sash will turn in the opening or closing direction, accordingly, as the longitudinal tension of the portion of the chain between the sash and the hand of the operator holding an inner end portion of the chain, is less than, or greater than, the sash opening bias force of the spring hinge connections between the sash and the casing. With the lever 29 in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, a clockwise adjustment of the inner end portion of the chain away from the position of said portion shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, will permit the part 31 of the member 38 to carry a link of the chain into the narrow portion 36 of the keyhole opening, and thereby lock the chain against longitudinal movement in the passage 33 of the lever 29. If the inner end of the chain is then released, the sash will be held in whatever open position it may then be in, as a result of the engagement of a chain link with the walls of the narrow slot portion 36, and the engagement of the upper ends of the shoulder portions 3| of the lever 29 with the shoulder portions 25' of the hinge cars 21 of the part 25.

As will be apparent, all of the operative adjustments of the chain 28 and lever 29 and member 38 just mentioned, may be efiected by movements given to or permitted the inner end portion of the chain by the hand of the operator, and by such movements the parts may be returned to their positions shown in full lines in Fig. 3. As will be apparent, the engagement of the member 29, when in its dotted line position with the shoulders 25 of the part 25, prevents further counter-clockwise adjustment of the lever 29, either under the pull of the chain when the window is secured in a partly open position, or as a result of the counter-clockwise adjustment of the inner end portion of the chain required to move the member 38 against the action of its bias spring 40.

The window operating mechanism illustrated and described, is simple, compact and relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and its operation is simple and easily effected. The member 25 may well be provided, as shown, with a hook 44, which may be used in looking a window screen in place, and it is one of the advantages of the present invention that the window opening screen may be mounted in the casing so that it does not need to be adjusted in the normal adjustment of the window between its closed and locked position and any of its open positions.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes, I have illustrated and described a provided embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will realize that changes in the form of the apparatus disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advantage without a correspondsash hinged to said casing to turn between open and closed position, means tending to turn said sash. away from and opposing its return to its closed position, a flexible window operating element connected at one end to said sash and having its other end at the inner side of the window, a sash locking lever pivotally mounted on said casing to turn into and out of locking engagement with said sash and formed with a guide passage receiving an intermediate portion of said element and adapted to be turned into and out of locking engagement with said sash by lateral movements of the portion of the element extending away from said passage at the inner side of the window, and means mounted on said lever and rendered operative and inoperative to hold said element against longitudinal movement in said passage by the said lateral movements.

2. In a casement window, a window casing, a sash hinged to said casing to turn between open and closed position, means tending to turn said sash away from and opposing its return to its closed position, a flexible window operating element connected at one end to said sash and having its other end at the inner side of the window, a sash locking lever pivotally mounted on said casing to turn into and out of locking engagement with said sash and formed with a guide passage receiving an intermediate portion of said element and adapted to be turned into and out of locking engagement with said sash by lateral movements ofthe portion of the element extending away from said passage at the inner side of the window, and a movable part mounted on said lever and biased for movement into a position in which it projects across said passage and holds said element against longitudinal movement in said passageway and adapted to be moved out of said passage to permit said longitudinal movement of said element by the said lateral movements of said element.

3. In a casement window, a window casing, a sash hinged to said casing to turn between open and closed position, means tending to turn said sash away from and opposing its return to its closed position, a window operating chain connected at one end to said sash and having its other end at the inner side of the window, a sash locking lever pivotally mounted on said casing to turn into and out of locking engagement with said sash and formed with a guide passage receiving an intermediate portion of said element and adapted to be turned into and out of locking engagement with said sash by lateral movements of the portion of the element extending away from said passage at the inner side of the window, said passage including a narrow portion alongside of a wider portion, and adapted to receive a chain link and to prevent movement thereof in the direction of the length of the chain, and means mounted on said lever and tending to hold a link of said chain in said narrow portion and adapted to be rendered inoperative by said lateral move ments of said element portion.

4. In a casement window, a window casing, a sash hinged to said casing to turn between open and closed position, means tending to turn said sash away from and opposing its return to its closed position, a flexible window operating element connected at one end to said sash and having its other end at the inner side of the window, a sash locking lever pivotally mounted on said casing to turn into and. out of locking engagement; with said sash and formed with a guide passage receiving an intermediate portion of said element and adapted to be turned into and out of looking engagement with said sash by lateral movements of the portion of the element extending away from said passage at the inner side of the window, means mounted on said lever and rendered operative and inoperative to hold said element against longitudinal movement in said passage by the said lateral movements, and stationary means supported by said casing and adapted for engagement by said lever to hold the latter against turning movement due to the tension of said element when the latter is held against longitudinal movement in said passage.

HENRY BIANCO. 

